Chester Borrows MP
National Party Police Spokesman

26 June 2007

Only 32% of new police on ‘front line’

Less than one-third of the extra sworn police promised by the Labour-NZ First Government are ‘frontline’ staff, according to information obtained by National’s Police spokesman, Chester Borrows.

“In 2005, Police Minister Annette King and NZ First MP Ron Mark confirmed that the confidence and supply agreement provided for ‘1,000 more sworn frontline staff’.

“But Police say that of the first group of 353 new sworn staff, only 112 (32%) are considered ‘frontline' staff.

“Of the remainder, 38 have gone into road policing, 25 into recruitment, 29 into CIB, 40 into community positions, 28 into youth and family, and 39 into ‘other’ specialties.

“These are all very worthy areas of police work, but by the Police’s own definition they are not on the front line.

“Documents cleared by Annette King describe ‘frontline’ officers as: ‘responders, general duties etc’ – and there were only an extra 112 of them.

“CIB, community and road police, and organised crime staff are listed separately.

“These are exact figures and descriptions that came across Annette King’s desk – figures and descriptions that she cleared for release.

“She needs to explain to the public why more of these new police are not on what the Police call the front line.

“I’m concerned at the misleading impression that may have been created by Labour and NZ First.”

The term ‘frontline’ is also used in Budget documents to describe the additional 1,000 sworn staff as ‘Increase in Frontline Capacity’.

“Delivering 1,000 frontline staff was always going to be unrealistic without additional sworn officers to support them in the areas of crime prevention, investigation and prosecution.

“Clearly, the Police have a different idea as to what constitutes a ‘frontline’ officer than the Government. The question is really who should the public believe?”

ENDS

Attachment: answer to parliamentary question

--

www.beehive.govt.nz/Print/PrintDocument.aspx?DocumentID=24559

Hon Annette King

8/12/2005

Labour-New Zealand First agreement: 1000 more sworn frontline police staff

The Government and New Zealand First are committed to working together to provide an additional 1000 sworn police staff over the next three years.

Police Minister Annette King and New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark confirmed today that the Government’s confidence and supply agreement with New Zealand First to provide funding over the next three budgets for 1000 more police staff means “1000 more sworn frontline staff”.

“The 1000 will include 250 community constables who will be working as frontline officers,” Annette King and Ron Mark say.

“Further work with the Police Commissioner’s office and with the Police Association is being undertaken to redefine policing with the community in the 21st century.

“We know communities want to see police out and about on their streets, but in some places around New Zealand this works extremely well and in others it is not so effective.

“We want to ensure the role is defined in such a way that it is effective around the whole country. We have no doubt that the more visible police are, the more likely the public is to feel a sense of safety and reassurance.”

Annette King and Ron Mark say that more work is still being done on other aspects of the agreement. “Clearly there are issues around providing equipment and infrastructure for the extra staff, and you cannot simply add 1000 to the sworn numbers over three years without also adding more non-sworn staff in support. We are committed to doing that, and are working through details.”

Recruitment campaigns have already begun, and more are being organized, Annette King and Ron Mark say.

“We detect there is a real buzz among the police at the commitment. They know that in the future they will have the resources, in terms of people, infrastructure and equipment, to provide New Zealanders with the level of police services that they deserve.”

--

Answer to parliamentary question

08496 (2007. Chester Borrows to the Minister of Police (June 7): How many, if any, of the 1000 new police officers that the Government promised at the last election will be front line police?

Police Minister Annette King replied: I am advised that detailed staff allocations for the second and third years of the increase in Police staff numbers have not yet been completed. The allocation of additional sworn staff during the first year (2006/07) is shown on the attached table:

Allocation of 353 of the 1000 additional sworn staff during the 2006/07 year of the 100 new sworn members Government promised at the last election

Allocation Additional sworn staff
Frontline - responders, general duties etc 112
Road Policing related 38
CIB/investigation support 29
Other specialists 12
Community focused 40
Youth and Family focused 28
Organised Crime and related 17
Prosecutors 13
Analysts/Intel/Deployment 9
Deployed offshore 3
Recruitment and staff support related 25
Other 27
Total 353

ENDS

© Scoop Media